The Disney Song Encyclopedia - fieldi

94 “I’LL MAKE A MAN OUT OF YOU”
song and in an Irish jig, which brings out the Irish housekeeper Mrs. Worth
(Hermione Baddeley), who also joins them in the dance.
“I’ll Make a Man Out of You” is the rhythmic military song written by
Matthew Wilder (music) and David Zippel (lyric) for the animated movie
Mulan (1998). The Chinese warrior Shang (singing voice of Donny Osmond)
must turn a group of misfit soldiers, including the girl Mulan disguised as
a young man, into a tough fighting force. He sings this forceful number to
them, and then his voice continues on the soundtrack during a montage
showing the raw recruits becoming tougher and more successful as fighters.
Action star Jackie Chan recorded the song in Chinese for a music video
featuring himself doing his fight movements in time to the music.
“I’ll Try” is the revealing character song written by Jonatha Brooke for
the animated film sequel Return to Never Land (2002). Instructed by her
mother, Wendy, to entertain her little brother, Daniel, with stories about
Peter Pan, the frustrated Jane (voice of Harriet Kate Owen) begrudgingly
agrees, even though she does not believe in the boy hero. Jane’s thoughts
are sung by songwriter Brooke on the soundtrack, torn between her mature
self and the child her mother wants her to be. The melodic number
is reprised over the closing credits of the movie. Jesse McCartney made a
recording of the song in 2006, and Kerry Butler made a delightful version
in 2008.
“I’m a Happy-Go-Lucky Fellow” is a chirping number by Leigh Harline
(music) and Ned Washington (lyric) that Jiminy Cricket (voice of Cliff Edwards)
sings on a floating leaf and then in a library to introduce the first part of
the animated film anthology Fun and Fancy Free (1947). The optimistic song
about not worrying about life was originally written and recorded by Edwards
for the earlier movie Pinocchio (1940), but was cut from the final print.
“I’m a Reluctant Dragon” is the gentle “I am” song by Charles Wolcott
(music), T. Hee, and Erdman Penner (lyric) for the docile title character in
the animated film The Reluctant Dragon (1941). While having a picnic and
pouring tea for himself, the meek Dragon (voice of Barnett Parker) sings
this sprightly ditty about the virtues of peace and harmony and how he is
not a killing kind of dragon but one who reads and writes poetry.
“I’m Gone” is the Caribbean-flavored song of freedom from care written
by Michael and Patty Silversher for an episode of the animated television